Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-05-18
The Just Functions of a News
paper.

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The just Functions of News
paper.
Certain occurrences in Los Angeles,
of late, have caused many persons
who ordinarily care nothing for
newspaper, except as a vehicle for
conveying the news OF the world, to
ask themselves what the functions OF
a daily journal are-what should be
its privileges and what its restrictions?
Originally the newspaper was mere
newsletter sent from London to keep
the country gentry oa coardnt with |
the events transpiring at the Court. |
1t existed in perfection in the time |
of Steel, Addison, and the brilliant
wits OF Charles the Second s court were
not above contributing to this sort OF
circular letter of advice. AT that time
it was in truth mere brief abstract
aud chronicle of the times. Macaulay,
in his history OF England, gives a
graphic and highly interesting ac-
count OF the origin and development
of this precursor OF the newspaper OF
the present day In substantially this
form it continued in England and the
United States to the opening OF the
present century and even till later
period. In England the old gossipiDg
form of lthese letters shortly took the
shape of the annual Register"
which had the honor OF enjoying the
editorial services of the illustrious
Edmund Burke. To this was added
an official court journal. A great
and startling innovation in embryo
journalism was accomplished when
the London Times first began to re-
port the parliamentary debates. This
was done in a very fragmentary man
ner, and the fractional portions thus
reported were obtained with great
difficulty, against the decided hostility
of both houses of Parliament and
often at imminent peril OF imprison-
ment of both reporters and publish
ers.
In the United States newspapering
cannot be said to have taken its ex-
listing shape until somewhere about
the opening of the forties. about which
time James Gordon Bennett started
his New York Herald. The excesses
into which that man Of eccentric
genius, INSCRIPTIONS conscience and
indomitable energy, ran his paper are
known to many Americans of the pres
ent day. He abused every legitimate
conception OF a daily newspaper, and
shamelessly prostituted its columns
to purposes OF gain, but he published
the news. 1t is significant circum-
stance as to all journals which have
started ont in their career in riotous
fashion that the force OF public opin-
ion and the decency begotten OF pros
perity sometimes slowly but always
surely force them into more conserv-
atiye and respectable channel. This
has been notably the case with the
New Yorks Herald. The elder Ben
nett we're he alive to-day would not
think OF getting himself horse whipped
and then OF parading his castigation
in his own columns to increase the
sale of his paper. Such paper would
not sell now, and its proprietor would
be regarded as social Pariah. Dick
ems. in his Martin Chuzzlewit, gives
in the "Rowdy Journal" a correct
although a somewhat highly colored
picture OF the degradation OF the Jour-
Dahsm OF that day.
II may be useful at times to in
dulge in abstract speculations as to
what daily journal ought to be. 1t
ought above all things TO give the
news, but its conductors should bear
in mind the fact that prurient details
of scandal and tittle-tattle are not
news, and that the police courts are
not the Castalian founts from which
inspiration should be sought. After
having supplied Its readers with the
news of the day, both at home and
abroad, pointed editorial comments
ON men and events are an attractive
feature Of any daily newspaper, al
though they ought not to be stretched
to the limits of magazine article.
A journal aiming at great usefulness
and influence ought always to be the
champion Of the masses against the
classes, the fearless assailer of the
wrong and defender OF the right.
While countenancing no spurious en-
tarprises it oughtto aimsat advancing
the interests and promoting the de-
vslopment Of the section IN which i
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